Sometimes updates: BILD now saying the sum is around 20mil. According to them, BVB is in the lead for Dembele. Bayern extended the contract with Neuer til 2021 and apparently also netted Vicent Thill. He's a youngster and I can't find any videos on him, so this is apparently a deal for the future and no immediate starting material.
What are we thinking about Barcelona's utter collapse (even though they beat Depor 0-8 ytd)? At least it's making the Spanish league a little exciting. Am surprised by Torres as well, he's scored in his last 5 matches. As far as the Premier League, am really really hoping that Leicester can do it. Would be such a good story. Many predicted that they would go down this season, incredible. Good to see the Tinkerman get some vengeance on his return. Personally, I've been thinking of visiting more football grounds in 2016-2017 - particularly grounds with amazing atmospheres. After visiting the booooring Emirates a couple of times (seriously, so bad - feel bad for the original fans from Highbury, this place is dead) and a very quiet Nou Camp this season (disappointed as I was looking forward to it), I'd like to go somewhere with passionate fans and some serious noise. I'm guessing the only exciting one at the Nou Camp is El Clasico - the Champions League match I went to had a tourist doing her make-up while Messi scored an incredible goal. Still, a great experience and seeing Messi and other great players live is always fantastic. Anyone with tips? Where do you guys go?
Regarding Barca: Barca is still a great team, probably in the top 3. Great teams go in slumps from time to time and unfortunately our team picked the worst time to do so. There's still a great chance of finishing this season with a double and for any team that would be a great feat. Having said that, there are a couple of things that need to be addressed this off-season. I think is obvious the players have run out of gas due to the amount of minutes played at Barca and their respective NT. This needs to be addressed by having strict rotations in games where a full strength squad isn't needed to get the W. In order to do so, we need to have depth in the bench because of now we have a pretty pathetic bench for a team competing for a treble. Need to have a quality and healthy CB, a box to box CM (Sergi Roberto might fit this role), and a explosive/workhorse winger that can break down defenses(i.e. Pedro). Also, wouldn't hurt to have an experienced/proven striker that doesn't mind coming off the bench. This striker need to provide a different skill-set (headers, receives ball with back to the GK, etc) for times where "tiki-taka" isn't working but more importantly a striker that allows for resting MSN members. Iniesta is getting old therefoere another creative mid needs to be bought or Rafinha need to be given more PT. Lately, the ball isn't reaching MSN so Messi drops back way too much (basically the version we see in Argentina's NT) to be that link and create plays. Messi can do that but as good as he is he can't be in 2 places at once. As he gets older I see him taking this role but as of now I think it is a waste of his talents. Need to also clean-up the bench. Players that aren't going to make the team or won't get any PT need to be let go (i.e. Sandro, Douglas, Vermaelen, etc.) Also, re-evaluate all the players that are on loan/buy back clause and decide if they need to be brought back ( Halilovic, Dennis Suares, etc.)
Hummels to Bayern rumors are getting intense! German Media saying that a lot of players in Bundesliga know about him joining Bayern, BILD reporting there are advanced talks between him and Bayern. He also said something very cryptic in the likes of "I'm facing a very tough decision and hope that one day, when I made the decision, everyone will understand why it was so difficult for me to do this". Also absolutely no comments or dementi from Bayern and Dortmund management, everyone is keeping quiet.
We definetely need another defender. I was thinking about Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, but bringing Hummels home would be huge. The idea already makes Dortmund fans butthurt. Guess Barcelona is the biggest rival in the bidding contest.
No Championship celebration today. But what a goal by Douglas Costa! Pep must play him on Wednesday alongside Ribéry, Müller and Lewandowski.
United - Everton was a good game. Glad we pulled it off in the end Better take care of business in the FA cup final against either Watford or Palace
Watzke and Rummenigge now confirmed that Hummels is heavily considering Bayern and that there are ongoing talks between the clubs and the player. Think it's just a matter of time now.
Dembele to Dortmund done deal, according to BILD. Could've had him in Winter already, but have a good relationship with Rennes owner (Puma connection) and waited til summer. Nice for Dortmund, all top clubs in Europe were after him.
Funny...I'm rooting against them because of Pep. I like their brand of football but I simply will not root for a team led by that jackass.
Toughest opponent and now I see he put Müller on the bench and Alonso in the starting XI, don't like this one bit. Hope we don't lose tonight and seal the deal next week.
